The Korean Society of Surface Science and Engineering

The study investigated the impact of substrate pretreatment on depositing high-quality B-doped diamond (BDD) thin films using the HFCVD method. Films were deposited on Si and Nb substrates after sanding and seeding. Despite identical sanding conditions, BDD films formed faster on Nb due to even diamond seed distribution. Post-deposition, film average roughness (R_a) remained similar to substrate R_a, but higher substrate R_a led to decreased crystallinity. Nb substrate with 0.83 μm R_a exhibited faster crystal growth due to dense, evenly distributed diamond seeds. BDD film on Nb with 0.83 μm R_a showed a wide, stable potential window (2.8 eV) in CV results and a prominent 1332 cm^-1 diamond peak in Raman spectroscopy, indicating high quality. The findings underscore the critical role of substrate pretreatment in achieving high-quality BDD film fabrication, crucial for applications demanding robust p-type semiconductors with superior electrical properties.

Boron-doped diamond; HF-CVD; Sanding process; Seeding process; Potential window

Anodizing of Al6061 alloy was conducted in two different electrolytes of 20% sulfuric acid and 8% sulfuric acid + 3 % oxalic acid solutions at a constant current or decreasing current density conditions, and its dielectric breakdown voltage was measured. The surface morphology of anodic oxide films was observed by TEM and thermal treatment was carried out at 400 ℃ for 2 h to evaluate the resistance of the anodic oxide films to crack initiation. The anodic oxide film formed in 8% sulfuric acid + 3 % oxalic acid solution showed higher dielectric breakdown voltage and better resistance to crack initiation at 400 ℃ than that formed in 20% sulfuric acid solution. The dielectric breakdown voltage increased 6 ~12% by applying decreasing current density comparing with a constant current density.

Anodizing; Oxide film; Al6061 alloy; Constanct current density; Decreasing current density.

For this study, CrAlN multilayer coatings were deposited on SKD61 substrates using a multi-arc ion plating technique. The structural characteristics of the CrAlN multilayer coatings were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Additionally, the adhesion of the coatings was assessed through scratch testing, and the mechanical strength was evaluated using nanoindentation and tribometric tests for frictional properties. The results show that the CrAlN multilayer coatings possess a uniform and dense structure with excellent mechanical strength. Hardness measurements indicated that the CrAlN coatings have high hardness values, and both the coating adhesion and wear resistance were found to be improved compared to CrN. The addition of aluminum is anticipated to contribute to enhanced durability and wear resistance.

CrAlN Coating; PVD; Linear ion source; Mass Production.

This study reports a direct growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the surface of LiCoO₂ (LCO) powders to apply as highly efficient cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries (LIB). The CNT synthesis was performed using a thermal chemical vapor deposition apparatus with temperatures from 575 to 625 °C. Ferritin molecules as growth catalyst of CNTs were mixed in deionized (DI) water with various concentrations from 0.05 to 1.0 mg/mL. Then, the LCO powders was dissolved in the ferritin solution at a ratio of 1g/mL. To obtain catalytic iron nanoparticles on the LCO surface, the LCO-ferritin suspension was dropped in silicon dioxide substrates and calcined under air at 550°C. Subsequently, the direct growth of CNTs on LCO powders was performed using a mixture of acetylene (10 sccm) and hydrogen (100 sccm) for 10 min. The growth behavior was characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, Raman scattering spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. The optimized condition yielding high structural quality and amount of CNTs was 600 °C and 0.5 mg/mL. The obtained materials will be developded as cathode materials in LIB.

Direct growth; Carbon nanotubes; LCO powder; Cathode materials; Lithium ion batteries.

The surge in demand for lithium is primarily fueled by the expanding electric vehicle market, the necessity for renewable energy storage, and governmental initiatives aimed at achieving carbon neutrality. This study proposes a straightforward method for lithium extraction utilizing cellulose nanofiber (CNF) via a vacuum filtration process. This approach yields a porous CNF film, showcasing its potential utility as a lithium extractor and indicator. Given its abundance and eco-friendly characteristics, cellulose nanofiber (CNF) emerges as a material offering both economic and environmental advantages over traditional lithium extraction techniques. Hence, this research not only contributes to lithium recovery but also presents a sustainable solution to meet the growing demand for lithium in energy storage technologies.

Cellulose nanofiber (CNF); Lithiation; Lithium extraction; Lithium indicator.

We fabricated In₂O₃ zig-zag nanocolumns(ZZNCs) by oblique angle deposition method based on e-beam evaporator for highly sensitive and selective CH₃COCH₃ sensor. Our results indicate that as the ZZNCs layer stacks, the gas response also increases. In comparison to thin films, ZZNCs at 5 layer show a 117-fold enhancement in gas response and a rapid response time (~2 s). When measured with various gases, it showed a high selectivity towards acetone. Under conditions of R.H. 80%, exposure to CH₃COCH₃ gas theoretically indicated a detection limit of 1.2 part-per-billion(ppb). These results suggest the potential of In₂O₃ ZZNCs as a breath analyzer for the diagnosis of diabetes.

Superhydrophobic surfaces have been expected to be able to provide considerable performance improvements and introduce innovative functions across diverse industries. However, representative methods for fabricating superhydrophobic surfaces include etching the substrate or attaching nano-sized particles, but they have been limited by problems such as applicability to only a few materials or low adhesion between particles and substrates, resulting in a short lifetime of superhydrophobic properties. In this work, we report a novel coating technique that can achieve superhydrophobicity by electrophoretic deposition of aluminum nitride (AlN) nanopowders and their self-bonding to form a surface structure without the use of binder resins through a hydrolysis reaction. Furthermore, by using a water-soluble adhesive as a temporary shield for the electrophoretic deposited AlN powders, hierarchical aluminum hydroxide structures can be strongly adhered to a variety of electrically conductive substrates. This binder-free technique for creating hierarchical structures that exhibit strong adhesion to a variety of substrates significantly expands the practical applicability of superhydrophobic surfaces.

Superhydrophobic surface; Aluminum nitride nanopowder; Electrophoretic deposition; Hydrolysis reaction